He proposed it again as a place for direct talks and, seeking to highlight Turkey as a key mediator in the Ukrainian crisis.
The proposal was made during a teleconference of the leaders of the Alliance of the Willing for Ukraine, where the Turkish president underlined that Ankara will continue to work for a “just and lasting peace” and to facilitate direct contacts between the two sides.
According to a statement from the Directorate of Communication of the Turkish presidency, Erdogan emphasized to his interlocutors that Turkey is ready to support any diplomatic initiative to end the war and that direct negotiations “can be held in Istanbul”. He also noted that Turkey is in contact for this purpose with the two warring parties.
The report is part of Ankara’s steady effort to emerge as the main channel of communication between Moscow and Kiev, recalling previous rounds of talks hosted in Istanbul.
